Chapter 2 Section 3

1777 – committee appointed by Congress presented a plan Continued the structure and operation of government March 1781 – all 13 states had ratified

Unicameral – single-chamber Congress Committee of the States – one delegate from each state managed the government when Congress was not assembled No federal court system

Congress settled disputes among states Each state had one vote in Congress State legislatures selected its own representatives

Congress Powers Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Enter into treaties Raise and equip a navy

Maintain an army by requesting troops from the states Appoint senior military officers Fix standards of weights and measures Regulate Indian affairs

Establish post offices Decide certain disputes among the states

Created a weak national government Congress did not have the power to levy or collect taxes Congress did not have the power to regulate trade

Congress could not force anyone to obey the laws it passed or to abide the by the Articles Laws needed the approval of 9 of the 13 states Each state had only one vote

Amending or changing the Articles required the consent of all states The central government did not have an executive branch No unity in policy making No national court system

Establishment of a fair policy for the development of the lands west of the Appalachians Individual states could ceded, or yield land claims

Land Ordinances The Ordinance of 1785 Allowed for survey and division Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Territories were to be developed for statehood

Peace treaty with Great Britain – 1783 Britain recognized American independence Congress set up departments of Affairs War Marine Treasury

The structure of the central government could not coordinate the actions of the states effectively

States began to quarrel over boundary lines and disputes Some states began to deal directly with foreign nations Congress could do little about these matters

1787 – the government owed $40 million to foreign governments American soldiers still unpaid 1786 – economic depression left farmers and merchants in debt

Economic troubles led to rebellion Armed groups of farmers forced several courts to close in order to prevent farm foreclosures and the loss of their farms

Daniel Shays led a band that closed the MA state supreme court Gathered a force of 1200 Men and advanced on the federal arsenal in Springfield MA militia put down the rebellion

1. Identify human needs in the context of the larger society 2. Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation affected colonial society 3. Write 3 amendments 4. Bring before the class and vote